Multiple spindle vacuum double seamer



Jan. 24, 1933.

H. J. DOUGLASS ET AL MULTIPLE SPINDLE VACUUM DOUBLE SEAMER Filed Oct. 19. 1931 13-she6tS-Sh96t 1 FIE-.1! I

Jan. 24, 1933. H. J. DOUGLAS-S ET AL 1,395,184

MULTIPLE SPINDLE VACUUM DOUBLE SEAMER div/may Jan. 24,1933. Q H. J. DOUGLASS ETAL' 1,895,184

MULTIPLE SPIUDLE VACUUM DOUBLE SEA IER Filed Oct. 19, 1931 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 a FI 5.

"" INVENTDHS add Mam,

Jan. 24, 1933. H. J. DOUGLASS 141. 1,895,184 I I IULTIPLE SPINDLE VACUUM DOUBLE SEAI ER Filed Oct. 19, 1931 1S Sheets-Sheet 7 Jan. 24, 1933.

1-1. J. DOUGLASS ET AL MIjLTIPLE SPINDLE VACUUM DOUBLE SEAMER Filed Oct. 19, 1931 INYEIETEIHS mu [0 64% 09am Jan. 24, 1933.

H. J. DOUGLASS ET AL MULTIPLE SPINDLE VACUUM DOUBLE SEAMER Filed Oct. 19, 1931 13 Sheets-Sheet 11 Hm M cad/Z60 If War/aw i Jan. 24, 1933. H. J. DOUGLASS ET AL 1,895,184

MULTIPLE SPINDLE VACUUM DOUBLE SEAMER Filed Oct. 19, 1931 13 Sheets-Sheet l2 Frail.

INVENTEIHE ans flu? Q-@ Jan. 24, 1933. H. J. DOUGLASS ET AL 1,895,134

MULTIPLE SEINDLE VACUUM DOU BLE' SEAMER Filed on. 19. 1931 '15 Sheets-Sheet 1s ((IIIIIII T0 vacuum (Ha/N6 66' v Br WM 4- (14' add M1,

V/IIIIIIII Patented 24, A 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE HENRY JAMES DOUGLASS, CHARLES D. DOUGLASS, AND MARCUS S. LEVE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO PACIFIC CAN COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO,

CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF NEVADA MULTIPLE SFINDLE VACUUM DOUBLE SEAMEB Application filed October 19, 1931. Serial No. 569,758.

Our invention relates to improvements in double seamers, for uniting can ends to can bodies, and in particular reference to continuously operating multiple spindle double seamers, in which the closing operation is performed in a vacuum; and one of the objects of the invention is to engage the cans, as they are delivered to the machine at a slow rate of speed and gradually accelerate said speed, until they are traveling at the high speed of the seaming rollers, thus eliminating the spilling of the contents of the cans.

Another object of the invention is to receive the cans in the machine at a definite elevation, and carry them at this constant elevation through the machine, until the double seaming is completed, and the cans are discharged, thus avoiding the spilling of the contents of the cans by a rapid Vertical movement.

Another object is to enclose the can toget-her with the seaming rollers, the timing cam, and the gearing, operating said timing cam, into a hermetically sealed chamber, create a vacuum inside the chamber, and unite the can end with the can body, while the vacuum remains in the chamber.

Another object is to provide marking mechanism for stamping each can-end, after it has left the can-end stack and before it ha been placed on top of the can body.

Another object is to carry the can ends for some distance in alignment with, and at some space above the can bodies, and gradually lower the can-ends upon the can bodies, in order "to lower slowly any fruit, which may float upon the liquid in the can, and avoid the spilling of the liquid.

Another object is to provide automatic means for preventing the feed of a can-end, in case there is no can body delivered to the machine to receive said can-end.

Another object is to provide automatic means for-stoppin the machine, if a can body has been delivere and no can-end has been supplied.

Another object is to provide automatic means for keeping the machine running and. for preventlng the delivery of a can-end, if

no can body has been supplied to the machine.

Another object-is to prevent the creating of 'a vacuum inside a vacuum casing, if no can has been placed inside said casing.

With these objects in view, the machine is provided with a circular rotatory disc, upon which the filled can bodies are placed in comparatively close formation and are carried around with a slow speed and resting upon A the lowermost can-end in the stack and introduce it in a guiding groove of a can-end track, and bring it opposite a marking devlce,

where the can-end remains at rest, until after it has been stamped.

From the marking devices the can-ends are carried without interruption along, said track and are brought in vertical alignment with, and within a short distance above the top of the cans, where the said can-ends and the can bodies remain in alignment, both moving with the same accelerating speed,

until they are brought opposite the seaming spindles of the turret, and during their travel towards said spindles, the can-ends are gradually lowered, pressing down slowly any floating fruit, which may project above the tops of the cans, without spilling any of the liquid.

The seaming turret comprises a number of discs, secured to a tubular vertical shaft and driven with a continuous uniform motion.

A number of platforms are supported by the lower disc of the turret; said platforms receive the cans delivered by the accelerating devices and support them, while being carried around during the double seaming.

The upper discs of the turret are provided with guides, within which are slidably mounted vacuum casings carrying the seamin spindles; said casings being arranged in alignment with said platforms, and c lindrical shells are slidably fitted around t e platforms.

- When a can body and a can-end are placed upon a platform, a knockout rod immediately descends, engaging the can-end and holds it down upon the can during the operation of double seaming. v

The seaming spindle together with the outer casing are then lowered, until the seaming rollers are above the can at the elevation required for double seaming, and the cylindrical shell is raised upwards, until the upper edge comes in contact with the outer casing.

The can is then hermetically closed within the casing and the air is then removed by turning a valve for one quarter turn, connecting the interior of the casing with a tank, in which the air is kept at a high vacuum; the air inside .the can becomes rarefied and in this rarefied condition the final closing of thevseam is accomplished.

The interior ofthe casing is then disconnected from the vacuum tank and opened to the atmosphere, by giving the valve one quarter turn in the opposite direction, and the cylindrical shell is then lowered; the seaming spindle, together with the outer casing, is

. raised and the sealed can is removed by an extractin arm.

The f0 lowing is a more complete description of the invention, which taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine.

Figure 2 is a front elevation.

Figure 3 is a vertical section, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

' Figure 4 is a sectional plan, taken on line 4-4 ofFi 3, showing the driving mechanism and t e lower gearing of the machine.

Figure 5 is a sectional plan, taken on line 5 5 of Figure 3,.showing the can body feeding mechanism and the accelerating mechamsm.

Figure 8. is a vertical sectionthrough the center of one of the seaming spindles.

Figure 9 is a cross section of the seaming spindle, taken on line 99 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a cross section of the spindle,

taken on line 1010 of Figure8. I

' Figure 11 is a cross section of the spindle, taken on line -1111 of Figure 8.

Figure 12 is a vertical section of the vacuum casing of the seaming spindle, showingv the seaming rollers, the timing cam, the inside gearing operating the timing cam, and

the mechanism' for forming a running air tight joint between the hub of the casing and the outer sleeve, whereby the seaming rollers inside the casing are actuated from the outside.

Figure 13 is a vertical section through the center of the upper part of the seaming spindle and the mechanism for raising and lowering the seaming spindles and for manipulating the knockout rod.

Figure 14: is a vertical section through the upper portion of the turret.

Figure 15 is a plan of a portion of the machine, illustrating the operation of the safety devices.

Figure 16 is a detail of the top of the knockout rod and of the sliding head.

Figures 17 and 18 are a side elevation and an end view respectively of the marking device.

Figure 19 is a plan view, partly in section, of one of the seaming levers.

Figure 20 is a side elevation, partly of section, of the same lever.

Figure 21 is a vertical section through the center of the turret.

Figure 22 is a plan of the lower disc of the turret with the mechanism for raising or lowering the cylindrical shell removed, in order to show clearly the manner of connecting and disconnecting the vacuum casings of the seaming spindles with a vacuum tank.

Figure 23 is a central vertical section through the vacuum chambers, port holes, and valves manipulating the production of a vacuum in the traveling vacuum casings, by connecting them with a stationary pipe leadingto a vacuum tank.

Figures 24 and 25 are cross sections through the ports of the plug valves; Figure 24, showing the plug closing the port holes leading from the vacuum chamber and connecting the port leading from the vacuum casings of the spindles with the atmosphere; and Figure 25, showing the opening to the atmosphere closed and the port hole leading from the vacuum chamber to the vacuum casings of spindles open and Figure 26 is a sectional elevation of the can-end feed magazine, taken on line 26-26 of Figure 15, showing in detail the action of the" can-end separating disc, and the can-end propelling pins.

' The machine consists of the base 1 carrying the uprights or columns 2 and 3, to which some parts of the framework of the machine are secured.

At the bottom the base is provided with a flange 4, resting on the floor and with a hori zontal ledge 5, to which a bottom plate 6 is secured by means of the bolts 7.

The top 8 of the base carries a plurality of hearings, in which are mounted some of the upright shafts of the machine; and the bottom plate 6 is similarly furnished with bearings supportingthe lower ends of said shafts.

The inside of the base is partially filled with oil and most of the earing for driving the machine is placed within the base.

The top 8 of the base is provided with the bearing 9, fitted with the bushing 10, in which is mounted the lower end of the tubular shaft 11 of the rotatory turret, and inside the tubular shaft is placed the central shaft 12, resting at the lower end in the bearing 13, and at the top in the bearing 14, provided in the cylindrical casting 15. This casting 15 is adjustably secured to the horizontal top plate 16, which is fastened to the columns 2 and 3.

A thrust ball bearing 17 is placed above the bushing 10, to sustain the weight of the turret.

The tubular shaft 11 carries a circular lower disc 18, provided with a number of bosses 19, equally spaced one from the other. Each of said bosses is furnished with a bore, in which the reduced end of a vertical rod 20 is fitted and securely held by the nut 21.

The top of the rod 20 is reduced in diameter and carries the lower chuck casting 22, which is circular in plan, and which is secured to it by means of a screw 23. t

The lower chuck castings are provided with a semi-circular vertical projection, forming the trueing jaws 24, adapted to embrace one half the circumference of the can bod and its object is to help form the can b0 y into a circular shape and for aligning the can body with the seaming mechanism above.

A steel wearing plate 25 is secured to the top of the chuck casting 22. I

The cans to be seamed are placed upon the lower chuck, and they remain at the same elevation, until they are seamed and discharged from the machine.

The chuck casting is surrounded by a cylindrical shell 26' fitted slidably to the outer surface of the chuck casting, and formed at the lower end with the screw thread 27, where by it is secured to the outer rim 28 of the cylinder bottom plate 29, and made fast by the jamnut ring 30. p v I The cylinder bottom plate 29 is formed with a central hub 31, bored to slide upon the vertical rod 20, and with radiating arms 32 connecting said hub with the outer rim.

llpon the hub 31 is fitted to slide a shifting block 33, which is held in place by a compression spring 34, engaging at one end the arms 32 and. at the other end pressing against the top of said block, holding it yieldingly I against the collar 35, which is secured to the lower end of said hub.

The object of the spring is to limit the force with which ,the cylindrical shell is pressed upwards and to compensate for any wear or lrregularitles 1n construction or adjustment which may vary the extent of travel of the block.

By moving the block 33 up or down, the cylindrical shell 26 is raised, when the vacuum chamber is to be closed, and lowered, when The top edge of the cylindrical shell 26 at the same time comes in contact with a rubber packing ring 37', which is fitted in a groove on the bottom cover 68 of the vacuum casing 65 -of the seaming spindle, as it will be hereinafter described.

The tubular shaft 11 carries, besides the "circular lower disc 18, the lower guiding disc 55, for guiding and steadying the cylindrical shells 26, together with the lower chucks 22 and with the cans, and the three discs 56, 57, and 58 which form the upper part of the turret, and in which the seaming spindles are .mounted; the discs 55, 56, 57, are keyed to said shaft 11 and are provided with guides, arranged in vertical alignment with the lower chucks 22, while the disc 58 is mounted loosely upon the central shaft 12, and is secured to the flange 110 of the uprights 108, carried by the disc 57; the disc 56 is also se.- cured to the disc 57 by the uprights 107 and the flanges 109.

The vertical guides 59 in the disc 55 consist of split bearings, formed with caps 60 and bored to fit the outside diameter'of the cylindrical shells 26. a

The vertical guides in the disc 56 comprise the pockets 62, cored in the discs 56, and having the guiding grooves 63 milled out to fit guide strips 64, provided on the outer casings 65 of the seaming spindles.

The double seaming mechanism, best shown in assembly in Figures 2, 3, and 21, and in detail in Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, consists of a cylindrical casing 65, formed at the two ends with the flanges 66 and 67. A bottom cover 68 is secured to the flange 66 and a hu hub 74 and upon said shaft are assembled the several devices forming the double seaming mechanism. This shaft consists of a rotatable outer sleeve 77, and of the non-rotatable inner tube 78. which carries at the lower end the upper chuck 159, engaging the can-end rollers upon the seam, and of the non-rotatable knockout rod 7 9. Y

A spur gear 111 is keyed to the upper part of the sleeve above the hub casting and is driven with a high rate of speed from a spur gear 112, shown in Figures 2, 3, and 21, keyed to the central shaft 12 of the machine.

For manipulating theaction of the seaming rollers inside the vacuum casing from the outside, a spur driving gear 72 is keyed to the sleeve just below the hub 74, and below said driving gear is fitted to turn loosely a gear 73, furnished with a long hub 80, upon which is keyed a timing cam 81. Within the pocket 75, there is secured a stationary pin 82, upon which is mounted to turn a pinion 83, meshing with the driving gear 72, receiving motion from it and carrying keyed to its hub 84 a pinion 85, adapted to engage the gear 73, and

thus impart motion to it and to the timing cam 81 carried upon its hub.

Theratioof the gearing between the driving gear 72 and its meshing pinion 83, and betweenthe gear 7 3 and its meshing pinion 85, is slightly different. so as to cause the timing cam 81 to run either slightly ahead of the sleeve 77, or slightly behind said sleeve, so as to gain or lose one half of a revolution during a cycle of operation of the seaming mechanism or during one complete revolution of the turret. v

I Below the timing cam 81, the seaming head 86 is keyed to the sleeve 77 and is clamped by the nut 104.

This seaming head 86 is circular in shape and is made of such a diameter, as to fill up the space inside the outer casing, thus reducing the volume of air to be removed, in order to obtain the required degree of vacuum.

The seaming head (see Figures 8, 9, 10, and

11) has a continuous rotary motion and is provided with two bearings 87, oppositely disposed, and furnished with the bushing 88, in which are mounted shafts 89.

At the lower ends the short shafts 89 have keyed to them the seaming levers 94, which are formed with a central hub 95, and with sockets 96 at each end.

Within the sockets are fitted the eccentric bushings 97, shown in Figures 19 and 20. These bushings are cylindrical in shape and are furnished with threaded. holes drilled out of center, into which sleeves 98 are fitted.

At the lower end of the sleeves 98 the inner races 99 of roller bearings are shrunk on, While the outer races of said bearings are formed in the interior bore 100 of the seaming rollers 101 and 101a.

. The rollers 101 are carried at one end of the seaming levers 94 and they perform the adjusted, by raising or lowering the sleeves 98 within the bushings 97, and clamping them by the jam nuts 102, while the. distance of the seaming rollers from the center of the can may be adjusted, by turning the eccentric bushings 97 within the sockets 96 and clamping them in place by screws 103.

Upon the upper ends of the short shafts 89 are keyed the cam arms 90, provided upon their freeends with the pins 91, carrying the cam rollers 92, which are working in the groove 93 of the timingcam 81.

The groove 93 .of the timing cam is of a symmetrical shape; each half of said groove is arranged to engage a cam roller 92 of the operating arms 90 and thus act upon the seam at two opposite pointssimultaneously, counterbalancing the side pressure upon the chuck.

' The shape of the cam groove 93 is such, as to keep the seaming rollers 101 and 101a, which are revolving continuously, at the neutral position or equally distant from the center of the can, at the, time they are lowered the seaming lever 94, to the seam, flattening it out and making it air tight.

Within the hub-74 of the vacuum casing, any kind of a stuffing box may be arranged, to prevent the inflow of air into the casing between the rapidly rotating outer sleeve 74 and the stationary hearing, but a preferable construction is here illustrated.

The inside of the hub 74 is fitted with a ball bearing consisting of the outer ball race 113, held tight in the hub Hand of the inner race 114, which is secured to the sleeve 77. Beneath the ball race 113 is placed a ring 115, having a plurality of concentric grooves 116 formed on its upper face'and closely spaced, forming a number of con centric ridges between them.

This grooved ring rests upon a shoulder formed in the inner bore of the hub 74 and in turnsupports the ball race 113, which is held down firmly by the'nut 117.

(lo-operating with the ring 115 is another ring 118, which is resting upon a shoulder on the sleeve 77 and is provided on its lower face with a number of concentric grooves and ridges, arranged so as to-intermesh with those of the ring 115. Above said ring 118 is placed the inner ball race 114 and'both are clamped to the sleeve by means of an oil cup 119, which is provided with a screw formed with a raised rim 122, is secured an clamped by the jam nut 123 and a circular diaphragm plate 120 is placed upon the rim and clamped there b the nut 124.

The diaphragm p ate 120 is provided with a central opening, through which a cylindrical tube piece 125 passes and is secured to it by the nut 126.

The bottom of the tube piece 125 is smoothly ground to fit the bottom of the oil cup, which is partially filled with oil and seals the running joint between the rotating sleeve 77 and the stationary hearing.

The vacuum inside the casing produces a low pressure beneath the diaphragm plate 120 and the atmospheric pressure upon the upper face of the diaphragm keeps the lower end of the tube 125 in contact with the bottom of the oil cup 119.

The grooved rings 115 and 118 form a loose running fit, and their object is to retard the speed of inflowing air, (if any had entered between the top bore of the stationary tube 125 and the outside of the rotating sleeve 77 and from there leaked through the running joint at the bottom of the tube 125) by causing said inflowing air to perform a great number of reversals before it could enter into the vacuum chamber.

Above the diaphragm mechanism the sleeve 77 is provided with the gear'lll, and extending above said ear for some distance terminates within the ore of a sliding head 127, whereby the seaming spindle is raised andlowered during the operation of the machine, and where anti-friction ball bearings are placed, permitting the rapid rotation of the sleeve 77 within the bore of the nonrotatable sliding head 127;

For keepin the joint between the rotating outer sleeve 7% and the stationary inner tube 7 8 air tight, the following construction is provided enlarged,

The lower part of the sliding head 127 is bored to fit loosely on the top part of the sleeve 77, and it is then counterbored at 128, to form a seat for the felt washer 129; and above said counterbore the diameter is again forming a shoulder 130. A

grooved ring 131, similar to the ring 115 above described, is fitted within the bore, resting upon the shoulder 130, and in turn supporting the outer ball race 132 of a ballbearing, held firm in place by the sleeve casting 133.

At the top the inner bore of the sleeve 77 is counterbored and threaded at 134, to receive the lower end of the shank of a steel oil cup 135. l e

The inner race 136 of the ball bearing is then placed upon the shank next to the bottom of the oil cup, followed b another grooved ring 137 cooperating wit the ring 131, and the shank is made fast within the end of the sleeve 7 7 The sleevecasting 133 is furnished with i. (giver 151, secured to it by the screw threads Within the inside bore of the sleeve 77 is fitted the inner tube 78, which is provided at the top with a screw thread passing through the threaded sleeve casing cover 151,

where it is made tight by the jam nut 152 and, extending upwards, it receives the guide 153 of the knockout rod 79.

Within the cup 135 is placed a diaphragm mechanism, comprising a steel circular plate 154 provided with a central opening fitting the outside of the tube 78 and clamped to it by the 'am nuts 155 and 156.

At t e outer periphery the plate 154 is clamped within the counterbore in a ring 157 by means of the threaded ring 158.

The ring 157 has the lower face fitted close- I 1y to the bottom of the oil cup 135,'which is partly filled with lubricating oil.

' At the bottom the inner tube carries the upper chuck 159, against which the can endsare pressed by the seaming rolls during the seaming operation. This chuck can be adjusted vertically in relation to the seaming rollers by the screw threads at the bottom of the inner tubingand made fast by the am nut 338.

Within the inner tube 78 is placed the knockout rod 79, carrying at its lower end the tip 160.

a The knockout rod 79 extends upwards through the inner tubeand at the upper end ilt is reduced in diameter, forming a shoulder The reduced end passes through the rod guide 153 and the shoulder 161 closes the opening at the upper end of the tube ,air tight, when the cylindrical casing 65 together with the seaming rolls is in the downward position.

From the above description of the gearing inside the cylindrical casing 65, it may be noted, that the set of meshing gears 72 and 83, and the set of meshing gears 73 and 85 are mounted to turn around the same vertical centers, and therefore the distance between the centers of one set has to equal the distance between the other set; it may also be noted, that the ratio of gearing of the one set of gears is slightly different than the ratio of the other, so as to cause the timing cam 81 to run either slightly ahead of the sleeve 77 or slightly behind said sleeve, so as to gain or lose one half of a revolution during one complete revolution of the rotatory turret.

When the number of teeth in each of the gears has been figured, which produce the the teeth of the one set is slightly diiferent than the sum of the teeth of the other set,

requiring a slightly diflerent distance between the centers of the two sets, if the pitch of the teeth in the two sets are alike.

In order to equalize the distance between the two sets, the pitch of the teeth of one set will have to be slightly difl'erent than in the other.

By using a standard gear cutter for producing one set of gears, it willbe found that there is no standardgear cutter on the market to produce the other set, and a special gea' cutter with an odd pitch will have to be ma e.

A set of gears with an odd pitch are therefore not desirable in a machine of this character, since they cannot be readily replaced.

In order to overcome the above difliculty, the set of gears requiring the greater distance between centers are cut in the ordinary way, while the gears of the other set are cut by the same standard cutter, but the teeth, instead of running parallel to'the shaft, are cut at a slight angle to said parallel line, as shown in Figure 12.

The mounting of the seaming spindles upon the turret is best shown in Figures 2, 3, 13,

" and 21; said mounting is accomplished by placing'the cylindrical casings 65 within the pockets 62 on the guiding disc 56, placing the guide strips 64 within the grooves 63, and placing the hub 74 within the split guides 105 furnished with the cap 106, while the sliding head 127 is placed within the guide 140 on the guiding disc 58, with the arms 138 entering the slots 352.

The slidin head 127 is thus free to move up or down, ut is prevented from rotation by the arms 138.

For imparting vertical motion to the sliding head 127 there are provided flanges 141 at the top of the guides 140, and upon said flanges are secured the brackets 142, each bracket being furnished with a forked bell crank lever 143, pivoted at 144, and carrying a cam roller 145, working in a circular cam track 146, secured to the stationary cylindrical casting 15. The rotation of the turret around the central shaft of the machine carries the cam roller 145 along the groove of the cam track, and causes the swinging of the bell crank levers upon their pivots 144.

Cam plates 147 are secured to the arms of the forked lever, and=are furnished with the cam grooves 148 engaging cam rollers 149, carried by the arms 138 of the sliding heads 12 The swinging of the cam plates 147 causes the rollers 149 to follow the cam grooves 148 and to raise or-lower, and thus raise or lower the sliding heads 127 together with the seaming spindles and with the vacuum casings 65.

Each of the brackets 142 is provided with an arm 162, furnished with the bearings 163 for a rocking shaft 164.

The shaft 164 carries a segment of a gear 165, meshing with the teeth of a rack 166,

rying at the free end a cam roller 169, en

gaging a circular cam track 170, which is secured to the circular cam track 146 by "means of the brackets 171.

The rotation of the turret around the central shaft of the machine carries the cam roller'169 along the groove of the cam track 170, imparting a swinging motion to the arm 168 and tothe gear segment 165, raising or lowering the rack 166 and the knockout rod 79.

The cam tracks 146 and 170 are so shaped,

as to cause the seaming spindles and the knockout rods to ascend and to descend once for each revolution of the turret, and a cam track 54, which will now be described, causes the raising or lowering of the cylindrical casings 26, which in cooperation with the vacuum casings 65 of the seaming spindles form a hermetically sealed chamber, within which the cans are enclosed during the seaming operation.

The means actuating the shifting block 33 consists of a bracket 38, secured on the top' of the lower circular disc 18, and being provided with a boss 39, in which is secured a fulcrum pin 40. A rocking lever 41, shown in plan in Figure 6, and in elevationin Figure 7, bifurcated at one end, where it carries the bearings 42, is mounted upon the fulcrum pin 40, and at the other bifurcated end,

' where it carries the pivoting pins 43, it straddles the shifting block 33 and engages by means of the pins 43 the wearing blocks 44, which are adapted to slide inside slots in said block 33.

The raising or lowering of the lever 41 raises or lowers the cylindrical shell 26.

The rocking lever 41 is slotted in the middle and within the slot a'cam lever 45 is fitted.

' which is fastened to the top 8 'of the base.

The rotation of the turret around the central shaft carries the roller 53 along said track 54, and the raising or lowering of said roller by the track raises or lowers the rocking lever 41, whereby the cylindrical shell I 26 is raised or lowered.

The cam slot 48, it may be observed, is so shaped, as to have the extreme right end portion of it concentric with the center of the shaft 46, as shown at 48a in Figure 7, while the rest of the slot forms a considerable angle with a concentric circle, the result is, that when the rocking lever 41 is in the upward position keeping the vacuum chamber closed, the roller 49 is engaged bythe concentric portion 48a of the cam slot. Any small irregularities of the cam track 54, which produce slight movement of the cam lever 45 do not alfect the rocking lever 41,-and any pressure upon the free end of the rocking lever 41 is transmitted to the lever 45 by the roller 49 in the direction of the center of the shaft 46, there being no tendency to swing said lever one way or another, or to produce pressure by the roller 53 upon the cam track 54 to cause wear upon said track.

The can bodies are received upon the rotating disc 173 from any source of supply (not shown) and are guided by the guide rail 174. Above the disc 173 is placed the star member 175, which-determines the timing of the cans to harmonize with the seaming turret. V

The disc 173 is secured to a circular plate 172 furnished with a hub 197, keyed near the top of the vertical shaft 176, which is mounted at the bottom in the bearing 177 on the bottom plate 6 of the base and at the top in the bearing 178 on the platform 179.

Adjacent the can receiving disc 173 is placed the can accelerating mechanism, which receives the cans at the disc, where they travel in comparatively close formation and therefore with a slow speed and deliver them to the seaming mechanism on the turret, where they are spaced farther apart and therefore travel at a greater rate of speed.

The accelerating mechanism comprises a vertical shaft 180, mounted at the bottom in the bearing 181 on the bottom plate 6 of the base, and near the top in the bearing 182 carried by the cam track casting 196, which is secured to the platform 17 9.

At the top the shaft 180 carries the bar guiding head, consisting of the lower guiding plate 183,-formed with the guiding groove 184, and having a hub 185, whereby it is keyed to the shaft 180; and of the top plate 186 provided with guiding groove 187. The plates 183 and 186 are fastened together by the screws 188 in such a manner, as to have the two grooves 184 and 187 set at right angles to one another.

Sliding bars 189 and 190 are fitted in the grooves 184 and 187 respectively, and they carry at the ends the trueing aws 191. The bars are thus located at different elevations, the bar 189 being below the bar 190.

Cam roller pins 192are secured near each end of the sliding bar 189, and pins 193 are similarly secured near the end of the bar 190 and cam rollers 194 are mounted upon said pins. The pins 193 are longer than the pins 192 and are formed with a spacing shoulder 195, shown in Figure 3, in order line joining the centers of the accelerating shaft 180 and of the turret shaft 12.

The cam track 196 engages the cam rollers 194, and during the rotation of the accelerator shaft, causes the sliding bars 189' and 190 to slide within the guides 184 and 187, moving at one time the trueing jaws 191 nearer the center of the shaft 180,.when said jaws first receive a can body from the rotary disc 173, and farther away from said shaft as the can is being moved towards the seaming turret. The'rate of speed of said trueing jaws will increase, as their distance from the center of the shaft 180 increases, and when the jaws are near the line of the axis of the cam track, they will run with the same rate of speed as the seaming spindles of the turret.

The cam track is so formed at 337 near said axis, as to cause the said trueing jaws to travel for a short distance along the. path of the seaming spindles and in alignment with them, and during said travel the trueing aws 191 of the sliding bars and the trueing jaws 24 of the lower chucks engage the can body all around, giving it a perfect cylindrical shape and the can-end is during this time placed upon the can body and the knockout rod 79 is brought down to engage the can-. end, and holding it down, prevents its rota-- tion during the operation of the double seammg.

The cans traxeling from the rotary disc 173 to the turret are guided by the rails 198 and 199 and are propelled forwards by the trueing aws 191.

The cam track 196 engages one cam roller during a half of a revolution of the shaft 180, and just as one of the rollers on a sliding bar leaves the cam track, the other enters and in this way there is no interference to the motion of the two rollers,-if there are slight irregularities in the track.

The top 8 of the base is formed with an opening 200 and above said opening is erected the platform 17 9, which is supported from said base by the flanged plates 201 and by the columns 2 and 3.

The top of the platform carries anumber of vertical ribs 202, which are formed at the top with the surfaces 203 and 204. Upon the lower surface 203 is secured a smooth steel plate 205, upon which the cans rest, while being propelled by the trueing jaws 191, and upon the upper surface 204 is placed the lower guiding rail 199 and above said guiding rail 

